Private laboratories of Guwahati request Health Department to 'reconsider test rates'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The private sector laboratories and healthcare establishments of Guwahati have requested the State Health and Family Welfare Department to reconsider the decision on maximum charges for various COVID tests.

The Department did fix rates for various COVID tests for private hospitals and laboratories recently. The maximum charge for the RT-PCR test is Rs 500, and it is Rs 700 if the sample is collected from home. The rate for Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) is Rs 250.

In their representation to the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Assam Samir Kumar Sinha, the representatives of the private health establishments said, "… most of us spent a sizable sum in setting up COVID Laboratories and getting the same accredited, including the hiring of skilled manpower to do the tests. The consumable cost for TrueNAT is approximately Rs 950 per test and Rs 2,200 per CBNAAT test. The RT Lamp assay/conventional RT-PCR requires each run to have a minimum of three controls, thereby taking the cost of tests much higher. Besides these, there are other consumables such as PPE, VTM, tubes, and tips, not to forget the cost of licensing.

"RAT test cost is also much higher than the capping given in your order."

Also Read: India needs to be prepared to fight the COVID virus for years to come

Also watch: Tezpur Reports 1st Covid-19 Death in Second Wave